Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb will focus on enhancing bilateral trade, building stronger business and investment links with Indonesia, as well as deepening regional economic integration on his first overseas visit in his new role.

In Jakarta tomorrow Mr Robb will accompany the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to meet President Yudhoyono. He will also meet key ministerial counterparts and representatives of Indonesian business, including in the agriculture sector. Mr Robb will pay particular attention to the live cattle trade.

Indonesia is Australia’s 12th largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth $14.6 billion in 2012. Australian investment in Indonesia currently stands at $6.67 billion.

The first stage of the visit will include a senior delegation of 20 Australian business leaders across key sectors including agriculture, resources, banking and finance, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare and telecommunications.

Mr Robb said prosperous trade and investment relationships were built on both trust and mutual respect and it was important that his first official visit was to Indonesia our close and valued neighbour.

The trade of meat and livestock is a very significant part of Australia's relationship with Indonesia and this will be a key focus. The program includes a Beef and Cattle Industry Roundtable as well as a visit to the Tanjung Unggul Mandiri (TUM) Feedlot and the Kebayoran Lama Wet Market outside Jakarta.

"The trade of beef and live cattle is a fundamental component of our relationship with Indonesia and the task of my colleagues and I is to rebuild trust in that relationship after the deeply regrettable actions of the previous Australian government," Mr Robb said.

During the visit Mr Robb will also join regional counterparts at the 25th Ministers’ Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bali (3-6 October) to focus on free and open trade and investment and deeper regional economic integration.

APEC economies account for 58 per cent of the world’s GDP and 71 per cent of Australia’s trade in goods and services. Australia has helped Indonesia develop a plan for boosting private financing of infrastructure in the region which will help drive future growth and opportunity.

"As a government we are determined to demonstrate that Australia is very much open for business and that we are committed to being a stable and reliable trade and investment partner with all countries with which we share important relationships," he said.